Rustlers lose both ends of doubleheader in Gillette

The CWC men and women host Northwest College this Saturday at Rustler Gym.

Gillette College kept the Central Wyoming College Rustlers basketball out of the victory column Saturday in Gillette, sweeping a doubleheader.

In the men's game, nationally ranked Gillette College won an 87-75 decision vs. the Rustlers.

Gillette College is ranked No. 19 in the latest junior college men's basketball poll.

"The guys played hard," CWC coach Pat Rafferty said. "We played decent on defense. Gillette is a team that averages 100 points a game."

The Rustlers are now 12-13 overall and 6-7 in the region.

Gillette is 22-3 overall and 11-1 in Region IX men's play,.

The Rustler women fell to Gillette 76-62.

CWC hosts Northwest College on Saturday in a women's and men's doubleheader.

"I want our guys to continue to focus on the process and compete hard," Rafferty said. "Then the outcome will take care of itself."

The women start Saturday's doubleheader at 3 p.m.

"We will take a couple of days off to rest," CWC women's coach Serol Stauffenberg said. "We've been going at it since September and have the most important part of our season ahead of us. We do need to work on our post defense out of our zone."

Gillette College men 87, CWC 75

The Rustlers kept pace with high-powered Gillette in the first half, going to the break with a 35-34 lead over Gillette.

In the second half, Gillette pressed the tempo into high gear, outscoring CWC 53-40 for the win.

"We were right in the game at the eight-minute mark," Rafferty said. "They made some tough shots.

"We had a couple of breakdowns defensively. We had some silly unforced turnovers.

Just as it was in the men's game, the big difference for the Rustler women came in the second half.

Gillette's offense knocked in 45 points and held CWC to 35. Gillette went on a run in the middle of the half to pull ahead for good.

"Defensively, we struggled to guard their post," Stauffenberg said.

CWC's Jolonna Sazue led her team with 15 points.

CWC dropped to 11-13 overall and 5-7 in league. Gillette is 4-6 in conference.

"Gillette is easily one of the best teams in our conference had they not forfeited the 10 games because of an ineligible player," Stauffenberg said. "There would be a three-way tie for first right now with Gillette College, Dawson and Western."